Welsh Players who could make Team GB in the 2012 Olympics

There has been a lot reported in the media about the formation of a Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic football team for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games which will be hosted in London. There have been mixed reports from the Home Nations Football Associations with the English FA stating that they are "incredibly positive" that there will be a fully inclusive squad. In response to this statement the Scottish FA have said that although there is nothing that they can do if Scottish players wish to play for their team but they, as an independent body would not support the formation of a Team GB. Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland have similar opinions on the matter so with this in mind I have had a look at the players from each of the home nations who have had Premier League experience. First up is Wales...

Appearances in Brackets

Ian Rush (176)
Mark Hughes (297)
Robbie Savage (346)
Craig Bellamy (245)
Gareth Bale (77 - current)
Gary Speed (535)
John Hartson (155)
Neville Southall (208)
Chris Coleman (101)
Mark Crossley (204)
Simon Davies (297 - current)
Ryan Giggs (573 - current)
Vinnie Jones (184)
Mark Pembridge (229)
Dean Saunders (196)
Aaron Ramsay (34)

Now if you look at this list there are only 2 players who are still currently playing who would or could get selected in a unified British team (bear in mind that the squad is made up of players under the age of 23 with the exception of 3 overage players) - these are obviously Giggs and Bale.

Over the years, from 1992, there are still only a handful of players who potentially would have been included for the squad, namely Rush, Hughes, Speed and Giggs. You could argue the case for the likes of Bellamy or Hartston but during the prime of their careers there would have been too much competition from English players (Owen, Heskey, Crouch, Defoe, Vassell etc) therefore it would have been highly unlikely that they would have been selected.

If we look at the last Welsh squad which was assembled for the Home Nations Tournament in May there were only 6 players who were playing for Premier League teams at the time. These were Wayne Hennessey, Boaz Myhill, Danny Collins, James Collins, Andy King and Aaron Ramsay (Gareth Bale was injured so was therefore not included within the squad).

So in conclusion, there would only be potentially 2 Welsh players who would make the Team GB squad. These are Bale and Ramsay - both Under 23 and both fantastic prospects within the Premiership. We wait in anticipation to see whether they would be selected.

Visit my site http://www.premierleagueheroes.co.uk/ for information, statistics and video on all of your favourite Ex English Premier League players.

Visit my Premier League Shop for all your Official Premier League Team Merchandise and Gifts.